This is a frequent play: A toxic CEO exits and is replaced by a INSIDER. The insider will have short time the position and will then resign in disgrace over what the insider inherited.
Any of youse remember the Calhoun to Barnes swap and how that turned out??
KR was hired for 1 thing and 1 thing only. To completely dismantle Nielsen as we know it and provide jobs to India, Mexico and supposedly Australia. Mostly India and Mexico. That is the deal he made when DK wanted out. Nielsen will be gone in 5 years. At least the Nielsen we know. That's why we were sold to investment companies. That's what they do. Strip it bare bones and then sell it off. Only this time it's being stripped to bare bones and shipped overseas. There won't be any US jobs left in a year.
"Does Nielsen have, or has it ever had a CEO or a board member from outside the US?"
No
Does Nielsen have, or has it ever had a CEO or a board member from outside the US? I don't mean their origin, but their actual location and previous work environment.
I lived thru the Van De Berg, Susan Whiting, Dave Calhoun and Mitch Barnes eras. Susan was a great CEO and widely respected by the "ratings" folks at Nielsen back in the day. And very easy to approach whereas Calhoun literally had a security detail when he decided to waltz in to the NYC office from his cushy CT home every now and then. Barnes, like KR, was a legacy BASES guy. Not really know in the ratings world. And speaking of knot knowing stuff, it brings me to my brief interaction or lack thereof with KR. Towards the end of my long tenure at Nielsen, and as it was clear to me I was being pushed, and while finance and "mgt" began playing games with my compensation, I was "requested" to give KR an "overview" of what it was my division did exactly and explain how our products worked in the marketplace. Knowing that KR was likely behind my sudden reduction in compensation, I happily told his asst to basically "F off." Lol. A year later I was gone!!! Now did my departure have to do with that event with KR? I doubt it, but I still wonder. Hmmm.. Either way, don't know the guy and never was interested in knowing him either. Not shocked to see he's now CEO. The bar at Nielsen has been lowered over the decades. That's for sure.
Does this mean that DK did the job that he was hired to do or that he failed and is being replaced?
KR as the new CEO is going to provide the employees with some very entertaining town halls.
Everyone thought that the last DK/KR town hall was a disaster that could not be topped.
KR, Mr “I’m not an id--t “, “Slack or layoffs”, “I did noting wrong as she did not report to me”, “what do you mean I can’t wear a T-shirt with questionable graphics” is going to be entertaining.
We’re going from BAD to WTF? Felt it was appropriate to use one of KR’s favorite words. Singer… hahahah yes sir, we see your hand LOUD and CLEAR!! Check mate!! Well played! 😂😂😂🥃
We will be sold to the highest bidder. In whole or in pieces!
This guy who had a fall out in media after having an affair with a company lawyer? The guy who seems extremely grumpy and stressed out in live meetings snapping at simple questions like “why did we get rid of slack” with the response “do you want slack or do you want us to cut jobs?!” There’s a way to say it, dude. I’m shocked they made him CEO. He’s not the superhero we need right now.
It's becoming clear. Rao isn't the CEO you'd expect for Nielsen. In fact, he might not even be suited for a smaller business. The only other possibility I see is that they're finalizing the sale of other divisions, and he'll be the CEO for audience measurement.